Chabahar Project On Track Despite Sanctions, Says Iran Envoy, Assures Safety In Hormuz | Exclusive

Last Updated:April 30, 2026, 09:27 IST

Dr Mohammad Fathali also said Indians were safe in Iran as he blamed the United States for violence against Tehran

The Chabahar project has never been halted and continues to move forward steadily despite sanctions, Iran’s Ambassador to India Dr Mohammad Fathali has told CNN-News18 in an exclusive interview, calling media reports speculative. Noting that Tehran remains open to dialogue with the United States, Fathali stressed that no official details of any new proposal have been released. He underlined that Iran seeks “durable and lasting peace" rather than a cycle of war and ceasefire, asserting that Tehran’s non-negotiable red lines include its right to peaceful nuclear energy under the NPT and the lifting of “unjust" sanctions.

Dismissing claims by US President Donald Trump that Iran is nearing “collapse", the envoy said such statements are unrealistic, adding that Iran is prepared for a prolonged standoff. He also confirmed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s good health, describing rumours as propaganda aimed at weakening public morale.

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Edited Excerpts

Your government recently floated a new proposal to US that delays nuclear negotiations. Can you outline its key terms and explain why Iran believes this could break the current deadlock? How long will the ceasefire sustain?

No official details of this proposal have been released so far. What has appeared in the media is merely speculation. We believe that ending the war and establishing lasting peace can create conditions necessary to resolve other issues. We do not want to be trapped in the vicious cycle of war, ceasefire, negotiations, and then war again. We have always stated that we are prepared both for war and for peace, and we welcome any dialogue aimed at achieving durable and lasting peace.

What are Iran’s non-negotiable conditions for any revived nuclear deal with the US, and would lifting sanctions immediately be a prerequisite?

What is non-negotiable for us is the legitimate right of the Iranian people to benefit from peaceful nuclear energy. We are a member of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and we have so far operated within the framework of international regulations. Naturally, the lifting of all unjust sanctions imposed on the Iranian people is one of our most important preconditions for any negotiations.

Over the past 47 years, the United States and its allies have exerted extensive pressure on the Iranian people through the harshest and most inhumane sanctions. The freezing of billions of dollars of Iran’s assets, medical sanctions that endangered the lives of millions of our citizens, the prevention of purchasing new aircraft, and even restrictions on the import of aircraft parts are only part of these unjust policies aimed at pressuring the Iranian people.

Even now, by deploying military vessels to the region and stationing the most advanced military equipment, they seek to confront our people simply because Iran wants to remain an independent country and preserve its national dignity.

Amid escalating US-Iran tensions, will Iran guarantee safe passage for Indian ships through the Strait of Hormuz, especially for critical oil imports, or are there any conditions attached?

The Islamic Republic of Iran has emphasised that it remains committed to ensuring maritime security in accordance with international regulations. We have stated that vessels belonging to countries that have not participated in the US-Israeli aggression against Iran may continue to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

In this regard, our friendly countries, including India, face no restrictions in transiting the Strait of Hormuz. So far, several Indian vessels have passed through this route with full security, and this process will continue in the future.

Naturally, for better management of the situation, certain regulations have been established for passage through the Strait, and all vessels are required to comply with them. However, Iran has demonstrated the utmost cooperation and flexibility toward Indian vessels and those of other non-participating countries.

As India invests heavily in Chabahar Port, how is Iran ensuring its development amid sanctions, and what benefits will it bring to bilateral trade, especially for accessing Afghanistan and Central Asia?

We believe that economic and development cooperation, especially major regional projects like Chabahar, should not be affected by unilateral approaches and illegal sanctions. Chabahar Port is a strategic project with regional and international importance, playing a key role in enhancing regional connectivity, particularly for India and its access to Central Asia.

We continue to seriously pursue the development of the port and believe that the benefits of this cooperation are not limited to Iran and India alone; all countries in the region can benefit from it.

Despite the sanctions, this project has never been halted and continues to move forward steadily. The Chabahar-Zahedan railway, which is a vital link for the port’s transit capacity, has now reached 90 per cent physical progress. Rail-laying operations in the Chabahar section are expected to be completed by mid-June this year, connecting the port to Iran’s national railway network.

In addition, the improvement of public services, including the construction of a hospital and the development of hotels is expected to be completed by August or September 2026, providing the necessary infrastructure to transform the region into a sustainable economic and social hub.

With around 10,000 Indians living in Iran, including Sikh communities freely practicing at the Tehran Gurudwara, what measures is your government taking to ensure their safety and religious freedoms amid regional tensions?

From our point of view, there is no difference between Indian citizens in Iran and Iranian citizens. We are making every effort to ensure their safety. What threatens the safety of both Indians and Iranians is the act of aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime. The bitter reality is that our enemies do not believe in any religion or faith; during this act of aggression, they even attacked a Jewish synagogue in Tehran, which shows their anti-religious and terrorist nature.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is the most open country in the region for followers of different religions. Based on our Constitution and our moral values, we guarantee the security and freedom of all religious communities. The community of about 10,000 Indian citizens, including Sikhs, is a respected part of our society, and for decades they have been freely practising their religion and holding their ceremonies in their religious centers, including the Gurudwara in Tehran, without any restrictions.

In Iran, followers of all divine religions and different faiths freely practise their rituals and face no problems in doing so. However, what is now threatening religious freedom and human lives across the region is the criminal actions of the United States and the Zionist regime.

President Trump has claimed Iran is in a “state of collapse" with oil storage running out in weeks due to the American blockade. How is this affecting global oil supplies, particularly for India, and what’s Iran’s contingency plan?

Experience has shown that references to “a few days" or “a few weeks" in the rhetoric of the US President are unrealistic. At the beginning of this act of aggression, he claimed that the Islamic Republic of Iran would accept defeat within three days and that regime change would occur. However, as we have witnessed, not only did regime change not take place, but this war has made our nation more resilient and united.

Such claims should not be taken seriously. Moreover, we have prepared ourselves for a prolonged turmoil and have taken the necessary measures for all possible scenarios ahead.

Pakistan has offered to mediate between Iran and the US. Does Tehran trust Islamabad’s neutrality given its close ties with Washington, or do you see this as more posturing than genuine diplomacy? The so-called Islamabad talks exclude Israel. How does Iran expect these discussions to succeed without addressing Tel Aviv’s role in regional escalations?

We welcome any initiative that helps reduce tensions and leads to peace. It does not matter which country hosts the talks; what matters is that we will negotiate based on our national interests and to secure the legitimate rights of the Iranian people.

Regarding the second part of your question, I should say that our negotiating party is the US government. We do not recognise a regime called Israel to negotiate with. The Islamabad talks were also held between Iran and the United States. We believe that the Zionist regime is a false regime built on occupation and aggression. Its 70-year record is full of genocide and the killing of civilians.

Rumours swirl about the safety and health of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Can you confirm his wellbeing and address why these speculations persist amid Iran’s internal challenges?

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran is in complete health and is closely managing the situation. The rumours circulating in the media about his health are spread by our enemies with the aim of weakening the spirits of our people. However, our people are very aware and vigilant, and they do not fall for such rumours.

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